Chapter 314

Chapter 314: Chapter 314

The sheer intensity radiating from Suzuka actually made Ryuu take two involuntary steps backward.

The elf immediately looked toward Kiriya, her expression clearly asking:

’What the hell is wrong with this woman?’

"Ahem. Well, Ryuu, it seems you’ve encountered the legendary M."

Kiriya clenched one fist and gave her an encouraging gesture.

"In other words, a full-blown masochist. Keep it up and she might start calling you Master."

"Stop making stupid jokes!"

Ryuu whipped around and glared at him, her face burning red. Whether it was from embarrassment or anger was difficult to say.

Unfortunately, that brief distraction was all Suzuka needed.

She rushed forward and attacked Ryuu again.

Although the bizarre enthusiasm coming from her opponent had momentarily thrown Ryuu off, her body had been tempered through countless battles.

It reacted instinctively, choosing the most efficient response before she even had to think.

Ryuu slipped past Suzuka’s fists and drove the pommel of Stardust Sword hard into her abdomen.

"Ugh—!"

Suzuka let out a muffled groan that sounded equally like pain and pleasure. A twisted expression of ecstasy appeared on her face as she reached for Ryuu again.

The elf easily avoided her grasp, seized the opening, and slammed Suzuka violently into the ground.

BOOM!

The impact left a human-shaped crater beneath her.

"Uwaaah—!"

Despite being smashed into the ground that hard, Suzuka still did not immediately lose consciousness.

Instead, the nails on her hands suddenly extended into long blades and stabbed toward Ryuu’s eyes.

Ryuu’s heart tightened.

Her sword moved reflexively.

Shhk—!

The blade effortlessly cut through Suzuka’s claws before continuing across her throat.

"Hrk..."

This time, even the masochistic warrior could no longer launch another attack.

Ryuu’s entire sequence had been so smooth and precise that it was genuinely satisfying to watch, and Kiriya immediately started applauding again.

That momentary focus, however, created an opening elsewhere.

From the shadows cast by the palace buildings, a dark figure suddenly shot toward Kiriya with terrifying speed.

The attacker chose the timing, angle, and approach with near perfection, slashing directly toward Kiriya’s throat before most people would even have realized there was an enemy nearby.

"Burial."

Kiriya thought he heard a quiet voice beside his ear.

Whether in speed, technique, or choice of timing, the assassin was clearly among the absolute elite the Empire had painstakingly cultivated.

"Kiriya!"

Jeanne cried out.

Her battle standard materialized in her hand as she moved to support him—

only for another shadow to flash toward her.

A black blade cut straight for Jeanne’s throat.

Clang!

Jeanne raised the flagstaff and blocked.

Her arms flexed slightly, and the tremendous force behind her counter sent the attacker flying backward.

A soft exclamation escaped the girl.

"What strength...!"

Only then did Jeanne get a clear look at her opponent.

She was a petite girl whose head barely reached Jeanne’s chin, with a very slender frame, black hair, dark eyes, and an attractive face carrying the faintest hint of a smile.

"You’re really amazing, Onee-san."

The girl smiled sweetly.

"Kurome has never met a woman this strong before."

Her smile widened.

"I really want... really want to turn Onee-san into one of my dolls."

"That way you’ll stay this beautiful forever."

The words coming from those small, cherry-colored lips were chilling.

"A child?"

Jeanne frowned.

The skill Kurome had just displayed could no longer be explained by talent alone.

She must have endured brutal training and countless battles to reach this level.

’How much suffering has this child gone through?’

Buzz—Revelation descended.

Fragments of Kurome’s life appeared before Jeanne’s eyes.

A childhood filled with hardship.

Living with only her older sister for support.

Being sold into an Imperial assassination organization and trained day and night to become a weapon.

Being forcibly fed various poisons on a regular basis simply to strengthen her resistance to toxins...

’This is... monstrous.’

Anger rose inside Jeanne.

For someone as gentle by nature as her to become this furious said everything about how inhuman the Empire’s darker side truly was.

"Oh?"

Kurome noticed the pity in Jeanne’s eyes and giggled as she raised her black sword.

"Is Onee-san feeling sorry for me?"

"Then let Kurome cut you once, okay?"

"If I do that, Father won’t be angry with Kurome."

"I’ll help you."

Jeanne raised her battle standard horizontally.

"But I’ll do it my own way."

Her expression became firm.

"Children need to behave themselves. Otherwise, Onee-san might have to spank you."

It had to be said that people really were influenced by the company they kept.

After spending so much time around Kiriya, lines like that were beginning to come far too naturally to Jeanne.

"Hehe. Then Onee-san had better be careful."

Kurome smiled and charged again. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

...

Clang!

At nearly the same moment, Kiriya drew his sword at the last possible instant and blocked the assassin’s surprise attack.

That brief delay finally revealed the attacker’s appearance.

She was a girl of perhaps twelve or thirteen, with long black hair and striking crimson eyes filled with determination and decisiveness.

She wore a sleeveless black shirt and a black pleated skirt, her frame slender enough that it was difficult to imagine the devastatingly fast strike just now had come from someone so young.

"Another child...?"

Jeanne found the situation increasingly absurd.

Mez had already been little more than a young girl.

Now this black-haired, red-eyed assassin was also a child.

What was wrong with this Empire?

Why did it keep sending children to perform dangerous assassination work?

Jeanne’s opinion of the Imperial government sank even further.

"You’re... strong."

The black-haired girl immediately retreated after her first strike failed, studying Kiriya for a moment before speaking.

"You’re pretty good yourself."

Kiriya looked at the taciturn girl.

"Little sister, mind telling me your name?"

"Akame."

Akame lowered her center of gravity slightly.

The next instant, tremendous force erupted from her legs and sent her body flying toward Kiriya like a meteor.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A fierce exchange immediately began.

Or rather, Akame attacked while Kiriya defended.

The sword in his hand moved so smoothly and densely that his defense seemed completely impenetrable.

No matter how Akame changed her angles, rhythm, or sword techniques, she failed to break through.

Akame was still very young.

Her stamina, raw strength, and technique had not yet reached the level she would possess several years later at the beginning of the original story.

Against an outright anomaly like Kiriya, she naturally seemed rather powerless.

Not that another three years would have changed much.

Kiriya was cheating, after all.

Even after dozens of exchanges without making any progress, Akame showed no impatience.

She continued attacking, blocking, and evading with mechanical precision.

But composure alone could not bridge an overwhelming gap in strength.

While Akame remained locked in her futile offensive, one finger twitched among the unconscious bodies on the ground.

Ibara slowly regained consciousness.

His physique was undeniably tough.

After taking that much punishment from Luminous Wind, he could still move.

"Ugh... that man... is occupied."

Seeing Kiriya apparently locked in a difficult sword fight with Akame, Ibara immediately realized this might be his only chance.

He quietly held his breath and began gathering every scrap of strength he had left.

Then, the moment Kiriya turned his back—

Ibara launched a desperate killing blow.

Shhk—!

At that exact instant, Akame unleashed her fastest thrust yet.

Kiriya leaned backward and avoided Murasame with casual ease.

Then his right leg snapped upward.

His foot struck the hilt of Murasame.

"What?!"

The weapon flew straight out of Akame’s hands like an arrow—and pierced cleanly through Ibara’s abdomen.

Akame’s eyes widened.

She immediately tried to retreat and recover Murasame before resuming the fight.

Kiriya’s leg changed direction midway through the motion.

BANG!

The follow-up kick struck her squarely in the abdomen.

Agonizing pain tore through Akame’s body, nearly knocking her unconscious on the spot.

Yet her willpower was astonishing.

She forced herself to endure the pain and immediately tried to sprint away.

Wooden tendrils shot out after her.

They wrapped tightly around her body before she could escape.

Forest of All Things: Energy Drain!

The moment the technique activated, Akame completely lost the ability to resist.

Nearby, Ibara looked down at the blade buried through his abdomen and gave a weak, bitter smile.

"So... you noticed me after all."

Even while facing that kind of rapid assault, Kiriya had still been aware of everything happening around him.

"You’re really something."

With those words, Ibara lowered his head.

His body went still.

And this time.. he never moved again.

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